Orifice motor

Abstract

An orifice motor which includes a plurality of spaced-apart rotors positioned along a shaft and enclosed within a casing or housing. Each rotor includes at least one jet orifice thorugh which fluid passes and is ejected tangentially to the peripheral surface of the rotor. The apparatus also includes a high pressure fluid inlet at a first end of the shaft, and a plurality of exit ports together with an exit chamber at a second end of the shaft. Bearings and seals are employed to protect frictionally related surfaces. Fluid is injected into one end of the apparatus and travels axially through the apparatus, passing through each of the rotors by way of the orifices. As the fluid exits the orifices, a pinwheel effect is created which causes the rotors to spin, thus causing the attached shaft to spin. As fluid exits each rotor, it is introduced to the next rotor downstream, where it exits in the same way. The fluid pressure drops as it passes each successive rotor due to momentum imparted to the rotors by the fluid. The apparatus may include a bearing assembly which acts to transfer the weight of a drill string to the shaft of the motor, thereby reducing the load upon and increasing the life of the bearings.

I claim: 
     
       1. An orifice motor comprising: (a) a longitudinal shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, said shaft including an inlet nozzle adjacent said first end, said shaft including an outlet chamber adjacent said second end, said inlet nozzle and said outlet chamber in flow communication;   (b) a plurality of rotors, said rotors coupled to said shaft, each said rotor having at least one jet orifice means for ejecting fluid tangential to said rotor; and   (c) a housing, said housing containing said shaft and said rotors.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising friction reducing means for reducing friction between said shaft and said housing, said friction reducing means positioned between said shaft and said housing. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising sealing means for sealing said friction reducing means and protecting said friction reducing means from contaminants contained in said fluid, said sealing means positioned between said shaft and said housing. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for preventing pressurized fluid from bypassing said rotors. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said rotors are fixedly coupled to said shaft by keys. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said shaft includes support means for supporting the weight of a drill string. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said support means includes means for transferring weight of a drill string to said shaft. 
     
     
       8. An orifice motor comprising: (a) a shaft, said shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, said shaft including an inlet nozzle adjacent said first end, said shaft including an outlet chamber adjacent said second end, said inlet nozzle and said outlet chamber in flow communication;   (b) a plurality of spaced-apart rotors, each said rotor coupled to said shaft, each said rotor including a plurality of jet orifice means for ejecting fluid tangential to said rotor, each said jet orifice means positioned within a corresponding rotor offset at an angle relative to a reference line which is orthogonal relative to said longitudinal axis through said rotor; and   (c) a housing, said housing containing said rotors and said shaft.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising friction reducing means for reducing friction between said shaft and said housing, said friction reducing means positioned between said shaft and said housing. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising sealing means for sealing said friction reducing means and protecting said friction reducing means from contaminants contained in said fluid, said sealing means positioned between said shaft and said housing. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising means for preventing pressurized fluid from bypassing said rotors. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said rotors are fixedly coupled to said shaft by keys. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said shaft includes support means for supporting the weight of a drill string. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said support means includes means for transferring weight of a drill string to said shaft. 
     
     
       15. An orifice motor comprising: (a) a shaft having a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, said shaft including an inlet nozzle adjacent said first end, said shaft including an outlet chamber adjacent said second end, said inlet nozzle and said outlet chamber in flow communication;   (b) a plurality of spaced-apart rotors coupled to said shaft, each said rotor having a plurality of jet orifice means for ejecting fluid tangential to said rotor, said orifices in flow communication with each other, said orifices in flow communication with said inlet nozzle, said orifices in flow communication with said outlet chamber, said orifices offset at an angle relative to a reference line which is orthogonal relative to said longitudinal axis through said rotors;   (c) a housing, said housing containing said shaft and said rotors;   (d) friction reducing means for reducing friction between said shaft and said housing; and   (e) sealing means for sealing said friction reducing means from contaminants contained in said fluid, said sealing means positioned between said housing and said shaft and adjacent to said friction reducing means.   
     
     
       16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising means for preventing pressurized fluid from bypassing said rotors. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising weight transfer means for transferring weight from a drill string to said shaft. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said weight transfer means comprises a plurality of split spacers, each of said split spacers positioned within a groove in said shaft, each of said split spacers forming a weight-supporting shelf on said shaft, said each of said split spacers positioned adjacent to a double acting thrust bearing.